Dedicatory Sermon

By Rev. Mary Baker Eddy
First Pastor of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, Boston, Mass.
Delivered January 6, 1895
Text: They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of Thy
house; and Thou shalt make them drink of the river of Thy pleasures.
- Psalms xxxvi. 8.

A new year is a nursling, a babe of time, a prophecy
and promise clad in white raiment, kissed - and
encumbered with greetings - redolent with grief and
gratitude.
An old year is time's adult, and 1893 was a distinguished
character, notable for good and evil. Time past and time
present, both, may pain us, but time improved is eloquent
in God's praise. For due refreshment garner the
memory of 1894; for if wiser by reason of its large lessons,
and records deeply engraven, great is the value thereof.

To-day, being with you in spirit, what need that I should
be present in propria persona? Were I present, methinksPUL 2
I should be much like the Queen of Sheba, when she saw
the house Solomon had erected. In the expressive language
of Holy Writ, "There was no more spirit in her;" and
she said, "Behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom
and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard." Both
without and within, the spirit of beauty dominates The
Mother Church, from its mosaic flooring to the soft shimmer
of its starlit dome.
Nevertheless, there is a thought higher and deeper than
the edifice. Material light and shade are temporal, not
eternal. Turning the attention from sublunary views,
however enchanting, think for a moment with me of the
house wherewith "they shall be abundantly satisfied," -
even the "house not made with hands, eternal in the
heavens." With the mind's eye glance at the direful
scenes of the war between China and Japan. Imagine
yourselves in a poorly barricaded fort, fiercely besieged
by the enemy. Would you rush forth single-handed to
combat the foe? Nay, would you not rather strengthen
your citadel by every means in your power, and remain
within the walls for its defense? Likewise should we do
as metaphysicians and Christian Scientists. The real
house in which "we live, and move, and have our being"
is Spirit, God, the eternal harmony of infinite Soul. The
enemy we confront would overthrow this sublime fortress,
and it behooves us to defend our heritage.
How can we do this Christianly scientific work? By
intrenching ourselves in the knowledge that our true
temple is no human fabrication, but the superstructure
of Truth, reared on the foundation of Love, and pinnacledPUL 3
in Life. Such being its nature, how can our godly temple
possibly be demolished, or even disturbed? Can eternity
end? Can Life die? Can Truth be uncertain? Can
Love be less than boundless? Referring to this temple,
our Master said: "Destroy this temple, and in three days
I will raise it up." He also said: "The kingdom of God
is within you." Know, then, that you possess sovereign
power to think and act rightly, and that nothing can dispossess
you of this heritage and trespass on Love. If you
maintain this position, who or what can cause you to sin